Contextual Definition for Dummies
noun
What does Contextual Definition really mean?
Hey there! I'm here to help you understand the meaning of "Contextual Definition." So let's break it down, step by step, in a way that makes it super clear and easy to grasp.
Imagine you are reading a book and you come across a word that you've never seen before. You might feel confused, right? Well, a contextual definition is like having your friend beside you, explaining what that word means based on the surrounding words and sentences in the book. It's like getting a hint or a clue from the text itself to understand the unfamiliar word.
Let's say we encounter the word "quaint" in a sentence: "The little town was filled with quaint houses and cobblestone streets." If we look at the context clues in this sentence, like "quaint houses" and "cobblestone streets," we can infer that "quaint" means something old-fashioned, charming, or uniquely pretty. So even without knowing the exact dictionary definition, we can understand the word "quaint" based on its context in the sentence.
Contextual definition helps us make sense of unknown words by looking at the words and phrases around them. It's like putting puzzle pieces together. We use the surrounding information to create a full picture of what the word might mean.
Now, it's important to note that contextual definition is not always 100% accurate because it relies on our understanding and interpretation. Different people might have different understandings of the same word based on the context. However, it is a great tool to help us navigate through unfamiliar words and expand our vocabulary.
Just like how a detective analyzes clues to solve a mystery, we analyze the context of a word to solve the mystery of its meaning. Instead of relying solely on a dry and formal dictionary definition, we look for hints and tips within the text itself.
To sum it up, contextual definition is a way of figuring out the meaning of a word by examining the words and sentences around it. It's like playing detective and using context clues to crack the code of an unknown word's meaning. So next time you encounter a new word, don't be afraid. Look closely at the context, and let it guide you on an exciting linguistic adventure!
Revised and Fact checked by Mary Johnson on 2023-10-28 07:23:18
Contextual Definition In a sentece
Learn how to use Contextual Definition inside a sentece
- When you read a story, the words around a new word can give you a contextual definition of what that word means. For example, if you read the sentence 'The boy was ecstatic when he won the race', you can understand that 'ecstatic' means the boy was extremely happy because of the words 'was' and 'won'
- Imagine you are watching a movie in a foreign language. Even if you don't understand the words they are speaking, you can still understand the contextual definition of certain scenes based on the actions and expressions of the characters.
- If you see a sign that says 'Beware of dogs' outside a house, the contextual definition of that sign is telling you to be careful because there might be dogs that could potentially harm you.
- In a restaurant, when you see a menu item called 'vegan burger', you can understand its contextual definition by knowing that it is a type of burger that is made without any animal products like meat or cheese, suitable for people who don't consume animal products.
- When you are scrolling through social media and you see a post with the hashtag #TBT, the contextual definition of that hashtag is that people are sharing old pictures or memories on that particular day of the week, which stands for 'Throwback Thursday'.
Contextual Definition Hypernyms
Words that are more generic than the original word.